I recently got a new job that will allow me to move to Virginia. I am looking for an eventing barn for my 8 year old ottb. I haven’t decided on the exact location, as I want to make sure I find the perfect barn, but the areas I am thinking about are outside of DC/Fairfax, Charlottesville, and Richmond. Any recommendations would be awesome 
I am looking to make the move in the next three months.
If you end up near Charlottesville, Emily Beshear’s Brickland Farm is worth checking out. Her husband is a great sport horse vet and they have nice facilities. I loved boarding/training there when I lived in VA.
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You have your pick! The O’Connors and Alison Springer are in The Plains. Not too far from Fairfax.
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Kim Severson is in Charlottesville!
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I think you’ll have to decide how much traffic you want to deal with in your life. The DC/Fairfax region is notorious for some hellish traffic during rush hour. Not sure what Charlottesville and Richmond are like. I have a few clients in Virginia that would be more than happy to chat with you once you decide on a region:
Kim Severson (Charlottesville): http://kimberlyseversoneventing.com/
Stephen Bradley (White Post): http://stephensbradley.com/
Martin & Ashley Douzant (The Plains): http://theframesporthorses.com/
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Not to sway you, but Fairfax has the coolest Whole Foods in the USA.
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If you end up in Charlottesville, Dappir Ridge Eventing, has a beautiful facility, a great group of riders, and extensive experience with OTTBs.
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It kind of depends on your job, too. Will you be free to telework or have pretty flexible hours? You’ll spend a lot of time on the road if you’re in Fairfax and have to commute to work and/or the barn. There’s a handful of trainers closer in to Centreville or Clifton, but you’ll be looking more toward The Plains/Middleburg/Marshall for the majority of NoVA eventing farms. 66 and 50 (major roads) are not anyone’s friend around here.
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I’m confused, is it a remote job and you can live anywhere? Because Fairfax, Charlottesville and Richmond are not close together.
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Yes, this.
Unless you need to be close to DC, I would not pick Fairfax. If you need to be close to DC, I would also not pick Fairfax. Yeah, I live there :lol:
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My daughter. It is a remote job. She can live anywhere. She may need to go into an office some days (in DC I think), but she is interested in being close to Charlottesville, as she is interested in going to UVA at some point. I will let her clarify further, but figured I would chime in.
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So, I am fron Charlottesville and lived in the Richmond area as well. If affordability is an issue, then I would look at Richmond/Goochland. I Love Charlottesville nad second Dappri Ridge, BUT it is VERY expensive to live there. Where I lived in Goochland, I could commute to UVA for work in about 45 minutes. The West Side of Richmond is also accessible to 95 from 64 to No Va from 522. C’ville and Rva to DC is about 2.5 hours depending on traffic. Northern Va is the most epxensive part of the state and yes traffic is a bear. Feel free to PM me for more info.
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Great info! Horse is living at our house now (daughter lives about 15 minutes away), and I suspect that she will have a rude awakening with barn-house commute times.
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Having had horses and commuted into DC…tell her to live very near her horse. That is the only way that I’ve found to make it work. My rule…I’m commuting to my horse 7 days a week so make that my short commute!
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She is welcome to PM me as well to ask about boarding in Charlottesville and Richmond. I actually can spell, but apparently not today!
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Awesome. Will let her know!
And while there are a lot of great top level eventers in VA, they aren’t all going to be suitable to just anyone. What level of riding are we talking about? Thoughts on trainers ditching you for warmer climates come winter? Are you willing to haul for a weekly lesson or two (can save you on board costs if you only ship in for lessons and board somewhere else)?
I think Charlottesville and NOVA are better suited for eventers, and NOVA is closest to the majority of events (plan on close to two hours or more to get to events from most of the nicer places in the RVA area). But the cost of living is very high, both for humans and horses, and traffic is awful. The area itself is kinda cool, outside of the horses, though, and AMAZING for the horses. Most of the good eventing barns and trainers are going to be in Loudoun or Faquier, so the commute to Fairfax or DC will suck. But rent is a wee bit cheaper out this way (not by much in Loudoun, sadly).
I do agree with BFNE that the best situation in NOVA is to live near your horse. A dear friend of mine kept her horse 7 minutes from her house in Middleburg, but commuted to Alexandria or Germantown, MD for work. Her work commute sucked, but she was at the barn every night!
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If you can work remotely, I’d live in Loudoun/Fauquier close to your horse. Going into DC once a week would be fine, especially if the horse is boarded and you don’t have to provide care.
I lived in Fairfax county and kept horses at or close to my house. There are a number of horse communities and it’s a good solution if you need to be near a metro station or commute daily. However, I found that it became difficult to meet my riding needs and ended up moving to Middleburg. Open space is limited (good trails, but I had to trailer 15 min to public parks to condition/gallop/jumping ring), and was trailering 2 hours round trip once a week for lessons with my green horse.
Living in western Loudoun, I deal with no traffic on a daily basis (unless I venture east of Rt 15), have tons of horsey friends close by, and many trainers to choose from within a small radius. I also have endless ride out, and more convenient options for Xc schooling and indoor rings. If you compete a lot, close proximity to many events (and dressage and jumper shows) is a huge plus. I’m so spoiled that I hate travelling over an hour to show… 10-20 min is ideal
Lynn Symansky takes boarders at her farm in Middleburg. She does go to Florida but other eventing and dressage professionals often teach at her farm over the winter.
morningside in the plains (Skyeler Voss) has a great program.
Many other great options. You can also board somewhere private and trailer to lessons.
If if you’re interested in moving closer to DC or near a metro station, check out Vienna/oakton, fairfax station, Clifton, and great falls.
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What type of price range? Do you want your horse in full training? Local HTs or Recognized? What level?
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I moved to NoVa just over a year ago - I live in Fairfax County (Herndon) and kept my horse at a barn in Great Falls…the location was convienent but it was seriously overpriced. I just moved my boy to a different barn in Leesburg and I’m kicking myself for not making the change sooner! You get much more for your money once you head out west, including fantastic turnout.
As as others have commented, the traffic here is terrible. I drive 20 miles for work and usually plan on a 1.5 hr commute each way…some days, it’s closer to three. Live close to work or the barn and be prepared to spend serious time in your car.
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